Jenny. [Aside.] Humph! Mr. Black and gruff! [Exit, R. Re-enter SOPHIA, running with great eagerness, R. Sophia. I've got it! Here! Take this, good woman; go home and be happy! Take it, I tell you! [Offering a purse. Sulky. (c.) Who is this? Mrs. Ledger! How does your worthy husband? Mrs. L. Alack, sir, ill enough: likely to starve in his latter days. Sulky. How! Starve? Mrs. L. The Widow refuses to do any thing for him. Sulky. (L.C.) Humph! Mrs. L. Service, age, and honesty are poor pleas, with affluence, ease, and Mrs. Warren. Sulky. Humph! Mrs. L. You, sir, I understand, are the late alderman's executor? Sulky. I can't tell. Mrs. L. Perhaps you may be able to serve my husband? Sulky. I don't know. However, give my respects to him. He shan't starve: tell him that. Sophia. Nay, but take this in the mean time. Sulky. Ay; take it, take it. [Exit MRS. Ledger, L. S. E.] And who are you, Miss Charity? Sophia. Me, sir? Oh! I-I am my grandma's grand-daughter. Sulky. Humph! Sophia. Sophia Freelove. Sulky. Oh! The widow's daughter by her first husband? Sophia. Yes, sir. Re-enter JENNY, R. Sulky. Where's your mistress? Jenny. (R.) Coming, sir. So! [To SOPHIA.] You have stolen your mamma's purse, Miss? Sophia. La, don't say so; I only ran away with it! She was bargaining for some smuggled lace with one of your acquaintance, and I thought I could dispose of her money to better advantage. Jenny. Without her consent? Sophia. Yes, to be sure; I knew I should never dispose of it in that manner with her consent. Jenny. Well! Here comes your mamma. [Exit, L. Enter the WIDOW WARREN, R. in a fantastic girlish Morning Dress, surrounded by Milliners, &c. and their Altendants with Band-boxes; all talking as they enter.-SOPHIA humming a tune, and capering about in the back ground. Widow. (R.) So you'll be sure not to forget my chapeau-a-la-Prusse, Mr. Mincing! Hatter. (R.) Certainly not, madam. Widow. (c.) And you'll make a delicate choice of the feathers? Hatter. The selection will be elegant, madam. Widow. Yes. I know, Mr. Mincing, you're a charming man! And you will let me have my pierrot a-laCoblentz by nine in the morning, Mrs. Tiffany? Mantua-maker. (R.) To a minute, ma'am. Sulky. Madam, when you have a moment's leisureWidow. Be quiet, you fright; don't interrupt me! And my caraco a-la-hussar, and my bavaroises a-laduchesse. And put four rows of pearl in my turban. Milliner. Ver vell, me ladyship. Widow. And you'll all come togther exactly at nine? Omnes. We'll all be here! [Going, R. Widow. And don't forget the white ermine tippets, and the black fox muffs, and the Kamschatka furs, that you mentioned, Mr. Weazel! Furrier. I'll bring a fine assortment, madam. Widow. And, and, and-No; no-you may all go; -I can think of nothing else ;-I shall remember more to-morrow. Hatter-Furrier-Milliner, &c.-Thank you, madam! Very much obliged to you, ma'am !-Dee ver good boujour to me ladyship. [Together.-Exeunt, R. Widow. (R.) What was it you were saying, Mr. Sulky?-Pray, child, what have you done with my purse? Sophia. Given it away, ma'. Widow. (R. c.) Given it away, minikin? Widow. (c.) Given my purse away! To whom? For what purpose? Sophia. (L. c.) La, ma', only-only to keep a poor woman from starving! Widow. I protest, child, your grandmother has totally ruined you! Sulky. (c.) Not quite, madam: she has left the finishing to you. Widow. What were you saying, Mr. Sulky? Sulky. You won't give me leave to say any thing, madam. Widow. You know you are a shocking troublesome man, Mr. Sulky! I have a thousand things to remember, and can't bear teasing! It fatigues my spirits! So pray relate this very urgent business of yours in a single word. What would you have? Sulky. Justice. Widow. Lord, what do you mean? Do you think I am in the commission? Sulky. Yes, of follies innumerable! Widow. You are a sad savage, Mr. Sulky! And who is it you want justice for ? Sulky. Your late husband's son, John Milford. Widow. Now pray don't talk to me! You are a very intrusive person! You quite derange my ideas! I can think of nothing soft or satisfactory while you are present! Sulky. Will you hear me, madam? Widow. I can't! I positively can't! It is an odious subject! Sophia. Nay, ma', how can you be so cross to my brother Milford? Widow. Your brother, child?-Country education! How often, minikin, have I told you he is no brother of yours! Sophia. La, ma', he was your husband's son ! Widow. Yes, his ba-Faugh!-Odious word !— Your brother? Sophia. Yes, that he is! For he is in distress. Widow. (R.) And would you now, you who pretend to be a very prudent-ridiculous kind of a person, wish to see me squander the wealth of my poor dear little old. dead man on Mr. Milford, and his profligate companions? Sulky. Not I indeed, madam; though the profligate to whom you make love should happen to be one of them! Widow. Ha, ha, ha! Oh, the monster! I make love! You have no eyes, Mr. Sulky! [Walking about with a conceited air.] You are really blind! But I know whom you mean. Sulky. I mean young Dornton, madam. Widow. To be sure you do! Whom could you mean? Elegant youth! Rapturous thought! Sophia. I am sure, sir, young Mr. Dornten is no profligate! Sulky. [Significantly.] You are sure? Sulky. Humph. Sophia. And its very scandalous, very scandalous indeed, to say he is my ma's lover! Sulky. Humph. Sophia. Because he is a fine genteel young gentleman; and you know ma' is Widow. (c.) Pray, minikin, be less flippant with your tongue. Sophia. Why la, ma', you yourself know you are too- ! Widow. Go up to your chamber, child! Sophia. I am sure, ma', I say it is very scandalous to call the handsome Mr. Dornton your lover! Sulky. (c.) Do you blush? [Exit, skipping, R. Widow. (R.) Blush, indeed? Blush? Ha, ha, ha! You are a very unaccountable creature, Mr. Sulky!Blush at the babbling of a child? Sulky. Who is your rival. Widow. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! My rival? The poor minikin! My rival? But I have a message for you! Now do compose your features to softness and complacency! Look pleasant if you can! Smile for once in your life! [Crosses to SULKY, R. Sulky. Don't make love to me! I'll have nothing to say to you! Widow. (R.) Ha, ha, ha! Love? Sulky. Yes, you make love to Dornton! Nay, you make love to the booby Goldfinch! Even I am not secure in your company Widow. Ha, ha, ha! You are a shocking being, Mr. Sulky! But if you should happen to see Mr. Dornton, do astonish your acquaintance; do a goodnatured thing, and tell him I am at home all the day. Love to you? Ha, ha, ha! Oh, you figure! You caricature of tenderness! You insupportable thing! [Exit, R. Sulky. [Sighs.] Ah! All labour in vain! [Crossing. Enter JENNY, L. [Exit, L. Stand out of the way, girl! Enter HARRY DORNTON, followed by a SERVANT, with Bills in his hand, L. Jenny. My mistress is gone up to her toilette, sir; but I can send you somebody you may like better ! [Exit, R. Harry. (c.) Obliging Abigail! [Looking over his papers.] 'Sdeath! What, all these tradesmen's bills? Servant. All, sir. Mr. Smith sent me after you with them. Harry. When were they brought ? Servant. Some last night, but most this morning. Harry. Ill news travels fast, and honesty is devilish industrious. Go round to them all, return their bills, and bid them come themselves to-day. Has Mr. Williams, the hosier, sent in his bill? Servant. No, sir. Harry. I thought as much; tell him to come with the rest, and on his life not to fail. Servant. Very well, sir. Enter SOPHIA, in high spirits, R. [Exit, L. Sophia. (R. C.) Oh, Mr. Dornton, I am glad to see you! Do you know, I've got the song by heart that you was so good as to teach me! Harry. And do you know, my charming Sophia, you are the most delightful, beautiful, bewitching scholar that ever took lesson! Sophia. La, Mr. Dornton, I'm sure I'm very stupid! Harry. That you are all intelligence, all grace, all wit! Sophia. To be sure my ma' caught me singing it, and C |